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1985 Ford Econoline

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

5Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19822
19837
198410
19857
198615
198722
1988
Compare all Econoline years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Tires
2Fuel System, Diesel
1Power Train
1
All reported categories
Steering
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Tires complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2000
Tires

REAR TIRE HAD SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT ON JULY 24, 1999. PURCHASED (2) NEW TIRES FROM FIRESTONE ON JULY 30, 1999 AND HAD THEM PUT ON BACK AND MOVED OLDER TIRES TO REAR. NOTICED SEVERE VIBRATION AND TOOK CAR TO FIRESTONE AND THEY FOUND TREAD SEPARATION. I DID NOT REALIZE TIRES HAD PROBLEMS UNTIL I READ ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS IN…

Read full complaint

REAR TIRE HAD SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT ON JULY 24, 1999. PURCHASED (2) NEW TIRES FROM FIRESTONE ON JULY 30, 1999 AND HAD THEM PUT ON BACK AND MOVED OLDER TIRES TO REAR. NOTICED SEVERE VIBRATION AND TOOK CAR TO FIRESTONE AND THEY FOUND TREAD SEPARATION. I DID NOT REALIZE TIRES HAD PROBLEMS UNTIL I READ ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE NEWSPAPER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225-75-R1 )

NHTSA ODI #729172

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1999
Tires

(FIRESTONE R17) TIRE FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #548484

Official recalls

5

87V144000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control

Sep 9, 1987

VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.

87V113000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control

Jul 21, 1987

EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.

87V111000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Jul 16, 1987

FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL MAY LEAK FROM VAPOR VALVE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OFFUEL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALLATION OF A NEWLY DESIGNED VAPOR VALVE GROMMET.

86V094000 · Steering:linkages:drag:link:connection

Jul 15, 1986

THE RUBBER THAT ENCASES BALL STUD AND SOCKET JOINT (CONNECTS STEERING DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM) MAY DETERIORATE, CAUSING METAL TO METAL CONTACT, AND MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN COMPLETE SEPARATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE DRAG LINK TO PITMAN ARM CONNECTION RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: INSTALL NEW DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH STEEL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS AT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTIONS.

85V061000 · Fuel System, Diesel

May 14, 1985

WHEN FRONTALLY IMPACTED INTO A FIXED BARRIER AT 30 MPH, AS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 301, THE LEFT FRAME RAILS OF SUCH VEHICLES MAY DISPLACE INBOARD, PINCHING THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR CANISTER BETWEEN THE FRAME RAIL AND ENGINE SUFFICIENTLY TO DISPLACE THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR DRAIN ROD, ALLOWING THE CONTENTS OF THE CANISTER TO DRAIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAK DURING OR AFTER A CRASH INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: INSTALL A CANISTER SHIELD, A REVISED DESIGN DRAIN ROD SHIELD, AND MODIFY FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR MOUNTING BRACKET.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.